This paper draws together and provides further analysis of two research projects commissioned by the Department of Employment, with a focus on employers' labour use strategies in Britain. It seeks to place on a firmer statistical basis arguments about the presence and growth of the ‘flexible firm’, and it draws also on case‐study data to explore some of the issues relating to flexibility and strategy. Our conclusions are that there has been a marked absence of strategy in this area, and reasons for this are explored, as are the implications for gender and segmentation in the labour market.

The paper examines the potential role of minority language use in the process of regional economic development. An examination ofthe economic impacts that may arise from public policy support for minority language maintenance widens the ränge of potential arguments available to advocates ofsuch support andprovides economic development specialists with aframework within which to consider the füll cost and benefits of such support.The case of Gaelic-speaking parts of the Highlands and Islands of Scotland is used to explore the concept ofa "Gaelic economy". A definition is offered and estimations of the size of that economy are then presented. This is followed by an exploration of the dynamics of linkages between minority language development and economic development, focusing on impacts on migration flows, the impact of Gaelic on tourism, the language and small business development, and economic self-confidence in general. In conclusion there is a brief discussion of the factors likely to influence perceptions of the minority language/economy linkage in Western Europe.

No abstract

This empirical research on the Scottish electronics industry examines the characteristics of unionised plants, including those with single union agreements. The work is part of a wider project which has been published in article form in other journals.